The Amboseli Love Foundation’s educational journey, 

began with the simplest of settings;

Their first class was held humbly beneath the shade of a tree.

Bernilai Foundations recently completed an insightful benchmarking visit mission to Amboseli, Kenya, marking a significant step in our commitment to global education and community empowerment. Our Founder, Febs Asyagaf, traveled to the heart of the Maasai community to meet with Dickson, CEO and Founder, and Jonathan, Program Director, of the Amboseli Love Foundation (ALF). This exchange offered a firsthand look at the transformative power of a community-led foundation, revealing a shared vision to empower the next generation amid immense challenges.

This foundation story is one of profound, grassroots love for the Maasai community. Born from the daily challenges and experiences of its founders, ALF was established to provide essential support, starting with children and expanding to impact people of all ages.

ALF’s vision is monumental: to grow from its current single classroom (built through the generosity of one family) into a large, comprehensive educational center spanning from Playgroup to High School. This ambitious goal is essential for creating the sustained, life-changing impact the community desperately needs.

Core Pillars of Amboseli Love Foundation’s Impact

The Amboseli Love Foundation (ALF) structures its mission around several interdependent programs designed to uplift the entire community. At its heart is the Education Program, which provides crucial academic and pre-academic skills to prepare children for a competitive future. To ensure students can focus on learning, ALF runs a vital Feeding Program that provides essential meals for both children and vulnerable locals. Recognizing the region’s critical environmental needs, the foundation is actively involved in Water Drilling—a significant effort to expand access to clean water across the ecosystem—and integrates Climate Change & Global Warming awareness and solutions into its outreach. Finally, to meet the overwhelming demand and long-term vision, ALF prioritizes Building Schools, continuously expanding infrastructure and serving more children in the Maasai community.

Education as a Weapon Against Poverty

“Education is our crucial defense against prevalent community challenges, 

actively fighting the cycle of early marriage and early pregnancy 

that arises when young people are unable to attend school.”

The establishment of a community-based school in Amboseli is a direct response to severe community challenges. Without access to education, issues like early marriage and early pregnancy thrive, severely limiting opportunities. In a country where 42 different tribes coexist and English is the required national language for all subjects, education is the gateway to a competitive world.

Curriculum and Community Integration

ALF’s approach to education is holistic and deeply rooted in the local context because it:

• Blending Tradition and Modernity: The curriculum acknowledges the Maasai’s traditional lifestyle while combining it with the national education system to ensure students can compete nationally and pass crucial exams (Grades 3, 6, 9, and 12).
• Environmental Focus: Climate change is a significant objective. ALF runs nursery projects to motivate locals to plant trees and actively participate in addressing global warming.
• Local Teachers: To foster a sense of ownership and dedication, teachers are sourced from the local community and engage in the work as a way of giving back.
• Skills Integration: The school integrates life skills and wildlife/conservation training to impress upon students the importance of their local ecosystem, a crucial skill set in Amboseli.

Overcoming the Challenges

“The children’s commitment is extraordinary; 

they trek up to 20 kilometers or more through challenging terrain, 

often surrounded by wild animals, simply to access the classroom. 

You can imagine how challenging it is.”

The fight for education in Amboseli is a battle against significant odds. Students often walk incredible distances—up to 20 kilometers—to reach the school, navigating roads lined with wild animals. A heartbreaking reality is that if far-away students cannot secure a host family willing and able to accommodate their essential needs, they are forced to discontinue their education.

Furthermore, the foundation receives no government support, yet its fight for the community remains unwavering.

The most critical impact is the absence of local high schools, which forces many students to end their education prematurely and leaves them without the knowledge and skills for promising careers. Despite being home to major industries, Amboseli faces the harsh reality that local employers must hire staff from other areas due to the unskilled nature of the local workforce, a direct consequence of limited educational access. To directly combat the sad reality, the Foundations’ long-term vision is to provide vocational education with proper facilities, ensuring the community gains the necessary skills and access to education that leads to a better future and stable career. This is why ALF’s long-term vision for higher schools is so vital.

A Call to Action

The benchmarking visit illuminated the universal need for resilience, community trust, and a relentless focus on future generations. Bernilai Foundations is proud to align our values with the incredible work being done by Dickson, Jonathan, and the entire Amboseli Love Foundation team.

Their story is a powerful reminder that, with dedication and love—the origins, challenges, and experiences we get from our day-to-day lives—we can overcome systemic barriers to positively impact lives. Where roads are challenging and resources are scarce, education stands as our strongest bridge, connecting today’s challenges with tomorrow’s possibilities and change.

Witnessing Amboseli Love Foundations’ work,

provides a global affirmation: 

their strong spirit, 

Values,

and unwavering commitment 

strengthen our resolve for the Bernilai Foundations’ educational vision.